ENTtoday
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • Practice Focus
    • Allergy
    • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
    • Head and Neck
    • Laryngology
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric
    • Rhinology
    • Sleep Medicine
  • Departments
    • Issue Archive
    • TRIO Best Practices
      • Allergy
      • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
      • Head and Neck
      • Laryngology
      • Otology/Neurotology
      • Pediatric
      • Rhinology
      • Sleep Medicine
    • Career Development
    • Case of the Month
    • Everyday Ethics
    • Health Policy
    • Legal Matters
    • Letter From the Editor
    • Medical Education
    • Online Exclusives
    • Practice Management
    • Resident Focus
    • Rx: Wellness
    • Special Reports
    • Tech Talk
    • Viewpoint
    • What’s Your O.R. Playlist?
  • Literature Reviews
    • Allergy
    • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
    • Head and Neck
    • Laryngology
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric
    • Rhinology
    • Sleep Medicine
  • Events
    • Featured Events
    • TRIO Meetings
  • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • Triological Society
    • Advertising Staff
    • Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • Place an Ad
    • Classifieds
    • Rate Card
  • Search

Wound Management Following Facial Plastic Surgery

by Alice Goodman • February 1, 2008

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version

Management of surgical wounds remains fairly straightforward, according to facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons. Excellent surgical technique and appropriate precautions to avoid infection and stress on the wound are the general rules to follow to minimize scarring, the experts agreed.

You Might Also Like

  • Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: New Patients, New Reasons, New Techniques
  • Unintended Consequences: Combat-related injuries lead to advances in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery
  • Trends in Facial Plastic Surgery: New Patient Groups Bring New Challenges
  • Facial Plastic Surgery Gains Popularity with Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Explore This Issue
February 2008

Cosmetic Surgery

Planning the incision is the most important consideration in preoperative management of facial plastic surgery patients, said Jill Hessler, MD, Assistant Professor of Facial Plastic Surgery and Dermatology at Washington University in St. Louis.

The scar should be placed along relaxed skin tension lines or at the boundary of facial subunits where there will be the least amount of pull on the scar and the best scar camouflage. Identification of relaxed skin tension lines can be determined by looking at natural skin wrinkles or pinching the skin between two fingers to determine the natural folds. The lines run perpendicular to the underlying muscle actions. The shadows in those areas will hide the scar, she explained.

For example, the orientation of an incision on the forehead would be along the horizontal lines, whereas an incision along the lips should be oriented in a more vertical position, she said.

Preoperative recommendations include cessation of smoking for at least two weeks prior to surgery and continued avoidance of smoking for at least two to four weeks afterward. Smoking decreases arterial blood flow to tissues, which impairs wound healing, Dr. Hessler said. Smoking cessation prior to surgery is just as important as it is after the operation for optimal results, she added.

Dr. Hessler recommends adequate nutrition as part of the preoperative regimen for surgical candidates, including adequate hydration and a balanced diet that contains protein and other nutrients as well as a multivitamin. It’s important to limit alcohol, especially two to three days before surgery, because alcohol can lead to postoperative edema and fluid retention, she commented.

Patients planning to undergo facial/plastic surgery should refrain from taking ibuprofen, aspirin, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for 10 days to two weeks before surgery to limit the risk of bleeding.

Another important consideration to discuss with your patients is herbal supplements. It is important that physicians specifically inquire about their usage. Many patients don’t realize the side effects of these poorly regulated substances so neglect to ask about them, Dr. Hessler advised. For example, ginkgo biloba, vitamin E, and garlic can predispose a patient to bleeding, whereas St. John’s wort can interfere with anesthetics used in the procedure.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 | Single Page

Filed Under: Departments, Facial Plastic/Reconstructive, Practice Focus Tagged With: antibiotics, facial, plastic surgery, reconstructive, scars, surgery, techniques, treatmentIssue: February 2008

You Might Also Like:

  • Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: New Patients, New Reasons, New Techniques
  • Unintended Consequences: Combat-related injuries lead to advances in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery
  • Trends in Facial Plastic Surgery: New Patient Groups Bring New Challenges
  • Facial Plastic Surgery Gains Popularity with Racial and Ethnic Minorities

The Triological SocietyENTtoday is a publication of The Triological Society.

The Laryngoscope
Ensure you have all the latest research at your fingertips; Subscribe to The Laryngoscope today!

Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
Open access journal in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery is currently accepting submissions.

Classifieds

View the classified ads »

TRIO Best Practices

View the TRIO Best Practices »

Top Articles for Residents

  • Do Training Programs Give Otolaryngology Residents the Necessary Tools to Do Productive Research?
  • Why More MDs, Medical Residents Are Choosing to Pursue Additional Academic Degrees
  • What Physicians Need to Know about Investing Before Hiring a Financial Advisor
  • Tips to Help You Regain Your Sense of Self
  • Should USMLE Step 1 Change from Numeric Score to Pass/Fail?
  • Popular this Week
  • Most Popular
  • Most Recent
    • The Dramatic Rise in Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment
    • Vertigo in the Elderly: What Does It Mean?
    • Experts Delve into Treatment Options for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
    • Otolaryngologists Have a Major Role to Play in Treating COVID-19 Long-Haulers
    • Weaning Patients Off of PPIs
    • Vertigo in the Elderly: What Does It Mean?
    • New Developments in the Management of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
    • Some Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Resists PPI Treatment
    • Eustachian Tuboplasty: A Potential New Option for Chronic Tube Dysfunction and Patulous Disease
    • The Dramatic Rise in Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment
    • Podcasts Becoming More Popular Method of Education for Otolaryngologists
    • How to Embrace Optimism in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic
    • Tips on How to Approach Conversations with Patients about the COVID-19 Vaccine
    • Steps You Should Take to Protect Your Voice and Hearing During Telemedicine Sessions
    • Routine Postoperative Adjunct Treatments Unnecessary for Idiopathic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks

Polls

Have you spoken with your patients about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Visit: The Triological Society • The Laryngoscope • Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology

Wiley
© 2021 The Triological Society. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN 1559-4939

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This site uses cookies: Find out more.